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10E GREBPER. No. 294,829 Patented Mar. 11, 1884,

INVENTOR:

54 BY MM ATTORNEYS.

Nirnn STATES ATENJT FFICE...

ICE-CREEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,829, dated March 11, 1884, Application filed July 30, 1883. (No model.)

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. WEST, of Mohawk, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ice-Creeper, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a practical and efficient ice-creeper; and to this end the invention consists, principally, of a permanent plate and a detachable spur-plate, the permanent plate being formed with a screwthreaded sleeve and adapted to be fitted in a recess formed in the bot-tom of the heel of the boot or shoe, the spurplate being formed with spurs upon one side, and with a screwthreaded shank upon the other, that is adapted to screw into the screw-threaded sleeve of the permanent plate, so that the spur-plate may be easily detached 'from the boot or shoe and easily put in place when desired for use.

The invention also consists in providing the sleeve of the permanent plate with a plug,

- spring, and cap-plate adapted for keeping the sleeve from becoming filled with dirt when the spur-plate is removed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the heel of a boot or shoe having my new and improved ice-creeper applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the same.

A represents the heel of the boot or shoe, which is recessed at a. 13 represents the permanent plate, and 0 represents the spurplate.

The plate 13 is formed with the central sleeve, 12, which is screw-threaded upon the inside to receive the screw-threaded stud c of the spur plate (3, and the plate 13 is also formed with suitable holes near its ends for the passage through the plate of the screws (1 d, by which the plate B is secured to the heel A in the recess a, as shown in the drawings.

The plate 0, besides being formed with the said screw-threaded stud c, is formed upon the outside of the plate with the points or spurs e e, which, under the weight of the wearer, embed themselves in theice, so'that there will be no danger of the wearer slipping and falling when walking upon sleet or ice.

The spur-plate G is by preference made triangular, and 'formed with three or more points or spurs, so as to form a broad and sub- 5 stantial support for the heel of the boot or shoe, and so that the boot or shoe with the creeper attached will not feel unsteady and uncomfortable to the wearer.

The spur-plate C may be easily detached from the heel of the boot or shoe by simply applying the hand to the plate and unscrewing the shank C from the sleeve Z, and the plate 0 is small, so that it may be conveniently carried in the pocket and easily put in place upon the heel of the boot or shoe, as occasion requires.

The plate B, when the spur-plate G is removed, serves as a heel-plate and prevents rapid wearing away of the heel of the boot or shoe, and in the sleeve bis placed the small plug f, and placed above and attached to the plug f is the small coiled spring 9. which is attached to the cap -plate h, that rests upon the top of the sleeve 1), as shown clearly in Fig. 1, the spring 9 serving to force the plug f downward, for closing the sleeve 12 when the spur plate 0 is removed, thus preventing the sleeve from filling with dirt; and in order that the plug f shall not be forced entirely out of the sleeve I) when the plate 0 is removed, I form in the sleeve Z) the shoulder z, and form the plug with the flange i, that is adapted to rest upon the shoulder a, as will be understood from Fig. l.

Constructed in this manner it will be seen the ice-creeper is practical for its purpose, is cheap,.strong, and durable, and that the spurplate may be easily put in place for use, and as easily removed and carried in the pocket when desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an ice-creeper, the spring;actuated plug f, placed in the sleeve 1), for closing the sleeve when the spur-plate is removed, substantially as described.

2; In an ice-creeper, the combination, with the plate B, having sleeve 1), of ,the plug f, spring g, and cap-plate h, arranged to'operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an ice-creeper, the sleeve 1), formed with the shoulder i, in combination with the spring-actuated plug f, formed with the flange and with the screw-threaded stud c, substanv' substantially as and for the purposes set tially as and for the purposes set forth. forth. T 7 1 r 4. The plate B, formed with the screw- FRA:\K LSD 5 threaded sleeve b, and fitted in the recess a, Vitnesses:

made in the heel A, in combination with the H. A. \VEsT, detachable plate 0, formed with the spurs 0, JOHN M. DEEMER. 

